Improvement in inkstands



, -ZSheets--sheetL A. HGRMQANN.

INKSTAND.

.Patented Oct. -31. 1876.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2. l

A. HORMANN. INKSTAND.

Patented oci. s1, 187e.

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PATENT OFFICE.

` ARNOLD HEMANN, 0E EoBoKEN, NEW JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT IN INKSTANDS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 183,853, dated October 31, 1876; application filed February 17, 1874.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that L'AENoLD HEMANN, mechanical engineer, ofHoboken, Hudson county, New Jersey, have invented certain Improvements relating to Inkstands, of which `the following is a specification:

Eeretofore inkstands have either been constructed with a large mouth for admitting the pen freely without arresting it before it strikes the bottom, or (to prevent the ink from soiling the pen-holder, and consequently the fingers of the writer) with a small funnel or similar shaped vessel attached, into which the pen is dipped, and which arrests the motion ofthe same. This latter construction is very injurious to the pen. To avoid these and other evils I so construct an inkstand that only the `.fen of the writer'can be introduced into the ink, but not the pen-holder. I accomplish this byrraising the central portion of the bottom of my inkstand conically up to its mouth, producing by this means a narrow circular opening, which admits only the pen, but does not allow the pen-holder to pass into the ink-reservoir, which latter is of the proper depth to prevent an ordinary pen from touching the bottom. The conical or conoidal projection of the bottom serves also another purpose-that of taking the unnecessary ink from the pen in withdrawing` it from the inkstand. rIhe conoid furthermore reduces the surface of the ink, and, consequently, decreases its evaporation. Another importantadvantage is the increased facility of keeping the pen always in good condition. rEhe ink cannot dry on the pen if Writin g is stopped for a shorter or longer period, provided that the same is introduced into the inkstand and left there. The conoid7 as above stated, prevents the pen-holder from entering the ink, and keeps it always in position to be readily grasped by the hand of the writer, if work is resumed.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a central vertical section of what I consider a good and substantial form of my invention; and Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, the lower half being in section on the line S S in Fig. 1. Figs. 3 and 4 show two slightly-modified forms of inkstands, exhibiting my invention. Fig. 3 is a central vertical section through a stand with a hinged cover. The latter is lifted, and a pen-holder and pen are shown in the position which they will assume when left in the ink. This form is considerably lighter than that shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the conoid being hollow. Fig. 4 is a corresponding section of a very simple form of the invention, intended to be made of thin cheap material, and to be closed by au ordinary cork, as represented. I calculate this to take the place of the small octagonal or round bottles or stands now extensively sold with the ink, and retailing at a very low iigure. I can furnish a larger article, which will only hold the same or a smaller quantity of ink than the ordinary one, having nearly all the ad vantages of my desk-iukstands.7

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

A is the main body of the inkstand, and A] the neck or mouth thereof. A2 is the conoidal elevation of the bottom, and A3 the annular ink space or reservoir, the entrance a into which is only three-sixteenths of an inch wide, a little more or less, so that an ordinary penholder cannot pass through it, but only the pen, the ink-space A3 being deep enough to prevent any ordinary pen from reaching the bottom.

The inkstand thus far described I produce of glass in a press-mold, in the usual manner, the neck being closed in7 and finished as is common in the manufacture of iukstands.

The cover B may either be made of glass and separate from the main body, as shown in Fig. 1, or of metal and hinged, as represented in Fig. 3. The former may be ground air-tight onto the stand.

The arin g entrance to the ink-reservoir A3, produced by the conoid A2 and neck A1, facilitates the introduction of the pen greatly, which latter may be held in the hand of the writer in dipping in the same position in which it is held while Writing.

rIhe motion of the pen need not be carefully measured to prevent the same from entering the ink too deep or striking the bottom, as is necessaryr in an ordinary inkstand, but may be careless and vigorous, the conoid A2 successfully stopping the pen-holder and saving the pen. In withdrawing the pen from the stand, it naturally slides with its hollow side over the conoid A2, which latter frees it from -the surplus ink, and lets it flow back into the ink-reservoir.

When it is desired to stop writing for a shorter or longer period, the pen may be left in the ink, as represented in Fig. 3. The condid will keep the pen-holder in the proper position to be conveniently grasped with the hand when Writing is again commenced.

It will readily be seen that the diiculties which arise from having the ink dry on the pen are successfully avoided by the use of my inkstand.

A comparatively large body of ink may-be contained in the reservoir A3, with a very small amount of evaporative surface, keeping the ink in a good condition for a long while. The reservoir may be made to hold a large quantity of ink or a very small one; so may the bottom be solid or hollow, with as many refleeting-surfaces as is desirable.

The construction allows of very easy cleaning. A little stick introduced through the passage a will aid in removing particles of ink which should adhere to either side of the inkreservoir with extraordinary tenacity.

The external design of the inkstand may be varied within wide limits without departing from the principle of my invention. Instead of glass, hard rubber, composition stone, marble, or any other suitable material may be employed.

I claim as my invention- In an inkstand, the 'conoidal projection A2 in the annular ink-space A3, reaching up within the mouth A1, so as to form a contracted annular passage, a, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

ARNOLD HRMANN. Witnesses:

A. BERGMANN, A. WIGGERS. 

